K/R - LE rain coat one size down UPDATE! - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

K/R - LE rain coat one size down UPDATE!

Astrid

Veteran

Today the navy LE rain coat arrived, one size down. The fit is much better, only now the sleeves are just a tad too short and tight. I did the test with raising the arms and the sleeves are definitely pulling and I also can't close it comfortably all the way up. Love the color and the length. I'd wear it like in pic #7, with a scarf and without the hood (I prefer umbrellas). This one is 60€.

I also still have two other coats on order that I can wait for, #8 and #9. I'm also thinking about trying the local departement store one more time.

Thoughts?

This post has 9 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Shopping

25 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

Astrid

Veteran

Update:

I just spent two hours in the coat departement without success. Everything's too short, an unflattering color or totally shapeless. I found one puffer that was the right length and looked great and slimming, but it was an olive green that looked horrible on me and way over my budget. Another woman that saw me try it one got lucky though. She looked fantastic in it! The order with the two coats above should arrive tomorrow or Friday, I can do a comparison then.

Scarlet

Veteran

Well it looks really good. How disappointing that it feels too tight.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The sleeves don't look too short, Astrid. They will creep up when you stretch out your arms though. Do they really feel too short?

The raincoat looks great! You'll have to compare fits with the others once you have them too.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Scarlet! I've just tried it on once more, it's not that bad, only a little bit tight.

Thanks for your input Angie! They feel a bit short to me, but maybe they are alright and I just feel like they should be longer. I've just had another look and I think I know what is partly the issue, there are knit cuffs sewn onto extra lining in the sleeves and they are too high for me. So the sleeves don't move as easily as they would need to when I bend my arms. Of course I'm not sure if removing them would solve the whole issue. It's just that I notice the fabric strains a bit when I bend my arms too much. I'm definitely going to wait until the others are here before I decide.

Astrid

Veteran

So I tried the other two coats just now but both were too tight in the hips, so they'll go back. I also tried this coat again with bare arms and the the feel is much better that way. I think it's because the cuffs slide better on bare skin and aren't such a bother. I'm thinking about keeping this one and cutting the cuffs out of it (it's possible to remove them without destroying the lining, I looked). Additionally I'm going to keep looking for a not so gearish winter coat.Thoughts?

Anonymous

I like the blue coat. I can't comment on the different motion tests etc, since I usually don't put my coats thru exaggerated body contortions. My conclusion is that I am highly unlikely to be doing those motions IRL, so if the coat looks good and feels good, I'm good to go.

Again, from what I can tell, the coat looks great, but if you are not comfortable, then return.

bj1111

Veteran

sounds like a plan. i really like the navy on you. and it's not too gear-ish.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I like the navy, too. Not gearish on my monitor. Like Zap, I don't bother with tests like this because I really don't need to move my arms that much in a coat.... really, hardly ever even out of a coat.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Zapotee! You're right of course, I probably won't do the pose in #5. I just had to test that because I need to be able to lift my arms way up, e.g. for holding on to something during public transport. I don't feel uncomfortable in it per se, it was just something I noticed. But I think it's not a dealbreaker.

Thanks bj1111! I like the color too, much better than the wine color I ordered the bigger size in.

Thanks Rae!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, if the price is right, I vote keep it. You NEED a coat and this one will stand in until you can find your "perfect" coat; it will also work with your new boots. With gloves on you may not feel the sleeves are too short. And while cutting out the knit insets will allow more wind to get in, that may not be an issue for you in the first place, esp. if you wear gloves.

catgirl

Veteran

I am one that feels the need to do jumping jacks in coats - I dont' like my shoulders feeling pinched, which is probably a bad attitude for someone with broad shoulders. I do love the navy on you! but would like to see 8 and 9 because comfort is s so important in a garment you use often.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Suz. Yes, the price was great - it was on sale and I got some extra percents off with a promo code so I got it for 60€ instead of 190€! Agree about the gloves, I prefer to wear them anyway when it's cold enough for a warm coat and then the lack of knit insets won't matter that much. And you can still use the Velcro on the outside to keep the wind out if it's really that bad.

Diana

Veteran

I also can't stand it when my coat sleeves are too tight or too short. It's the #1 reason why an otherwise nice coat would become an orphan. Maybe this is because I don't have a car so I do things like stand on public transit, lug around heavy grocery totes on my shoulders, etc. Just today I stood for 30 minutes on the bus with my arm above my head!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Una! #8 and #9 didn't work out at all, I didn't even take pictures. I couldn't even zip them up! And they were also muc hshorter than this one. I like the length of this to wear with skirts. I agree that it should be comfortable though. And it's not like it's that much of a bother. It's just that my old coat is very roomy in the arms and when I tried this one on I paid attention to the fairly tight sleeves.

Gaylene

Veteran

I'm with those who think that a comfortable fit in a winter coat is a priority. If I couldn't comfortably close it up and move my arm up to grab the bar in a bus, I'd pass no matter how good the coat looked in pictures. A winter coat needs to be practical and, unless you are truly desperate, I'd keep looking until I found one that looked and felt good.

We can tell you that you look great in the coat from a picture, but only you can judge the comfort factor and whether you can live with a less than perfect fit. I've sometimes talked myself into thinking that something was "not that bad" with the result that the item ended up hanging, unworn, in my closet.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Diana! Yes, I agree, that's a reason a coat doesn't get worn. I don't have a car either (and I don't know anybody who has), so it's always public transport for me. Half an hour to Uni and 50 minutes to work. 30 minutes in the bus with your arm over your head is really bad...

Astrid

Veteran

Gaylene, you're right of course. I tried it again and I can comfortably close it and lift my arm up. I just feel more 'resistance' at the elbow like I do with my old coat. Although I really do think that this might be solved be removing the insets. Of course I can't try that before deciding if I want to keep it.

Anonymous

Umm... ok, I see what you all mean now. I take public transportation too each day and barely drive around. I carry my groceries by hand too, as usual in a walking city. I have never noticed these sort of fit challenges. Perhaps I am not paying attention. Interesting observations.

Perhaps the comfort threshold is different for everyone. I sort of expect that my sleeve will ride up a bit if I extend my arm out, etc.

I think you should probably keep looking rather than risking an alteration that would render the coat non returnable.

Astrid

Veteran

Maybe you always had jackets and coats where the sleeves were roomy enough, so it simply wasn't an issue. I guess you pay more attention to that when you had the problem once and discovered how annoying it can be... You're probably right that I should return it. It wasn't that expensive but I could use those 60€ to get a more expensive different coat instead, so I should probably return. I have another big departement store on my list that I haven't tried yet, I could do that.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Hm, I have done my share of bus riding, too, but have never noticed a pull of the same caliber as the test positions. Bizarre. I wonder if it's because I typically would hold on with only one arm at a time? Oh, well, what-ifs are no help to you... whether or not this is THE coat, I hope you are sufficiently coated and warm when you need to be!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Rae. I did test it with only one arm up, but it pulls a bit then too. I certainly won't have to freeze, I can always wear my old coat a bit longer. It's just that I did that the last two years too when I didn't found a new one and it's ready to go. Never mind that it's not the best look either, and black besides.

shiny

Veteran

Personally I like it but if the fit is bugging you it's bugging you. Have you tried Eddie Bauer already? What about North Face? I love the quality and fit of North Face but the dang logo bugs me to no end, however your post here just made me do some googling, and there are some styles now that do not have the obvious logo. Not sure what you are looking for but give it a google if you haven't tried them on already. North Face came to mind simply because that brand, being more sporty, is made for movement. Yet, not all the styles are "gear-ish" to my eye. The quality is excellent - I have one DD that asks for a new North Face every xmas and her NF coats are still going strong... and she's very tough on her coats.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Shiny! I haven't tried Eddie Bauer yet. I will go have a look if they have something that fits the bill. I already had a look at North Face, but the only coat that might be the right length on me is almost 400€! I really want something knee length, not shorter. I wear so many skirts at this length or slightly longer. I'm okay with a bit of skirt showing, but not too much. If I'd wear more pants a shorter coat would be alright too, but that's not the case.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I certainly hope you find your coat, Astrid. It's been a long and frustrating search for you so far.

I am one who also needs comfort through the shoulders. I almost NEVER have the too short sleeve issue (since my arms are short) but I can't abide pulling and tightness across the shoulders, either. So I do understand about that challenge.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Suz! Normally the sleeves are always too long for me too, here they are that short because it's a petite size. I'm going to post a question about two Eddie Bauer coats I'm thinking about trying.